The Ozark County Sheriff’s Office has officially earned the Missouri Blue Shield designation for 2026, recognizing the agency's commitment to community policing, public safety investments and local partnerships.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) notified local officials of the selection following an annual review process.
The Missouri Blue Shield Program was established by Gov. Mike Kehoe in January 2025 through Executive Order 25-03. During its inaugural year, 201 Missouri communities earned the designation, which requires local governments to demonstrate measurable efforts to reduce crime and foster law enforcement-community relations. Communities that received the honor in 2025 were required to reapply this year to maintain their status.
“The Blue Shield program has shown what’s possible when communities commit to prioritizing law enforcement and public safety,” Kehoe said. “After awarding $50,000 grants to more than 200 communities last year, we’re continuing that work by welcoming new communities and renewing Blue Shield designations for counties, towns and cities that remain committed to the program.”
As an incentive for earning the designation, participating communities will become eligible for specialized law enforcement training and equipment grants through a $10 million appropriation included in the governor’s recommended fiscal year 2027 budget, subject to approval by the Missouri General Assembly.
DPS Director Mark James noted that the program distributed significant hardware to local departments during its first year, including 388 mobile data terminals, 351 body cameras, 151 license plate readers, 102 ballistic vests, 91 interoperable radios and 56 patrol vehicles.
“Strengthening public safety and committing to joint law enforcement community-citizen safety efforts is what the Blue Shield Program is all about,” James said.
According to state guidelines, communities are evaluated annually based on their public safety infrastructure investments and active collaboration with community stakeholders.
The Ozark County Sheriff's Office secured the designation following the implementation of a regional Crisis Intervention Team, expanded department training and ongoing educational outreach within local schools and the county substance abuse task force.
“The Ozark County Sheriff's Office works to be a leader in our community and across the state when it comes to providing those who live in Ozark County with exceptional team members, equipment and continued training,” Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin said. “This award shows that the continued hard work and effort of my staff, deputies, jailers and everyone involved at the Ozark County Sheriff's Office is recognized not only locally but across the state.”
